Roy Mai: A Reflection Thus Far

Posted on September 14, 2011

Roy Mai (Silk Trace) unites once again the beloved onscreen couple Aum Atichart and Aff Taksaorn in a romance and period lakorn, where forbidden love and drama unfolds into two different lives of two different times: present time and a time set 70 years ago.

From Act Art production and director Off Pongpat, we can anticipate beautiful shots set in breathtaking provinces. We can also anticipate creepy ghosts and scintillating scenes ala Wayupak Montra. Off does not disappoint.

Aff Taksaorn plays present day Rerin, a proper, beautiful and a woman who appreciates the intricacies of silk textiles. So much so she teaches this artistic endeavor in Bangkok. It is a rare find indeed for a woman of modern time to be enthralled in ancient or old art. Rerin also creates the silk products (scarves, skirts etc) and sells them for a living. Her fiancé Thanin (played by Jason Young), assists her in selling her hardworking pieces. But their differences in appreciation of art comes to a clash when he sells her silk piece after she has forbidden it. To Rerin, this was a clear violation of her trust and respect, to the point where it pushes her to take some time off from Bangkok to think about her engagement to Thanin. It is almost as if she has already made up her mind to end her engagement with him, but wanted some time for herself and to find a reason to break it off, thus she makes an abrupt trip to Chiangmai, where her life will change forever.

Aum Atichart plays Suriyawong, a restaurant owner and no nonsense man who belongs to a long line of royal blood of Chiangmai. His grandmother is the mean and bitter Lady Bua Ngern who plans on handing her inheritance and fortune to her favorite grandson (Suriyawong.) She intends for him to be with Wongprajan due to her bloodlines and family name. Suriyawong does not care for a person like Wongprajan who is rude, spoiled and conniving. In all truth, he tells his sister that he feels like there is someone for him and that he must wait for her. As if fate heard him, Suriyawong meets Rerin as she traipse through Chiangmai. At first glance, both are spellbound. Particularly Suriyawong who cannot take his eyes off of her. I am reminded once again how much chemistry these two have together and why they are consistently paired up.

Soon after arriving in Chiangmai she hears a man calling for her. He appears at random times, once in a mirror, another at the resort she’s staying at, and a third time in a textile museum. Little did she know it was the manifestation or spirit of Prince Siriwattana (played by Chai) awaiting her return- the princess return. Because of her fascination with fabrics and materials, the person running the museum allowed her in on a secret. There is a beautiful, unfinished fabric downstairs with a mysterious and sad story to go along with it. Rerin learns of the unfortunate story of Princess Maneerin. The story took place 70 years ago when Princess Maneerin is arranged to be married with Prince Siriwattana as a means of national security. However, prior to her wedding date, she falls in love with his younger brother, Prince Siriwong. Mysteriously Prince Siriwong dies, leaving Princess Maneerin heartbroken. She weaves a fabric intended for her wedding day but tragically dies. Her death is also a mystery, rumor has it that she was poisoned. Now Prince Siriwattana’s spirit lurks around Chiangmai awaiting for Princess Maneerin’s reincarnation (Rerin) to surface and be with him again.

As creepy as the story sounds, it is also mysterious and makes one want to unravel the puzzle. How did Prince Siriwong die? How did he fall in love with Princess Maneerin? Was it love at first sight like Suriyawong and Rerin? How is grandma (Lady Bua Ngern) involved in all of this? Where did she get her estranged ghost? And how will Rerin and Suriyawong get together in present day, or will they get together at all? So many questions yet to be answered. Is this a time travel lakorn or merely one that Prince Siriwattana conjures up for Rerin? Only one way to find out, I must continue to watch Roy Mai.

And on another tangent, I had no idea Thanin was Jason Young! Golly, the boy has.. grown. If you were a child of the late seventies and early eighties, you will know Jason Young. He was a teenage crooner that can send girls screaming like idiots. He sang “Tagorn bok fah” starred in a movie that all I can remember him eating was tacos and now.. so many years later, in a lakorn as the bad guy. I wanted to kick myself for not knowing who he is for the longest time. I kept staring at Thanin thinking to myself, I know that face! *slaps myself* duh!

Hi J! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment! For Namtan Mai, I primarily watched Aum and Aff’s moment together and fast forwarded the other parts, lol. Not my favorite lakorn of theirs either.. However, they are making it up to us in Roy Mai 🙂 let’s keep rooting for them! Xoxo Fia

This is my first lakorn starring Aff and Aum together. I’ve never watched a series with Aum in it. Wanida with Tik last summer was the first time I watched Aff. (I usually watch lakorns with Ann and Ken or with Janie.) I enjoyed the remake of Wanida, but I’m enjoying Roy Mai so much more! It’s probably due to my fascination of Chiangmai and its culture.

Hi Ne, if this is your first Ateam lakorn, I would also recommend “Jumloey Ruk” which is their first and most renowned lakorn. They have amazing chemistry that is evident in all of their Lakorns 🙂 feel free to read my review of JLR under “All About Lakorns” to learn more about the drama. Visit Wishboniko channel on YouTube for eng sub. Xoxo Fia

Actually, I’m watching Botan Gleep Sudtai on Wishboniko’s channel due to your review of the series along with Roy Mai. I’ll check out JLR in the near future. The third lakorn I’m watching is the one that’s on CH3 now with Ken and Janie. Forgot the name, haha. I’m not done watching the first episode. Too many lakorns and not enough time!

I can totally relate! There’s really not enough time in the day to watch everything that I wanted to watch. Ken and Janie’s lakorn must be Kon Ruk Luang Jai… if you like romantic lakorns, I think you’ll like that one. JLR with Ateam is my absolute favorite! Enjoy Ne!

Yes! That’s the lakorn. I love the romantic comedies!! Have you ever watched Sapai Loogk Tung with Janie and Mart? It’s pretty funny. The dad in the series made a reference to JLR in it. LOLOL I love Janie. I finished watching Tas Rak and I really wanted to snooze thru Cherry and Mart scenes. I only watched it for Janie. 😉

Hi Ne! No, I have not seen Sapai Look Tung.. perhaps down the road I will. I enjoy comedic lakorns. Janie is one of my top actresses as well! I watched Tas Rak off and on, mainly for Janie and Por scenes, love the ending though, very heartfelt. Janie in the lakorn has the most to lose and because of that, in the end, gained the most 🙂 I’m so glad that she has seen the light, so the speak. It is great that dramas show consequences of one’s actions. xoxo Fia

Hi Allie, I’m glad you’re watching this series! As for the level of horror and scary characters in lakorns, well that really depends on the director/producer. Off Pongpat likes to freak his viewers out, so he doesn’t disappoint in this drama. Even though the ghost still freaks me out, I like how the drama gives me goosebumps. Especially when we’re involved with two love stories of two different times.. speaking of which, I still need to catch up with the newer episodes 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! xoxo Fia

No part of this blog’s contents may be copied and pasted (including copied and pasted on your blog, website, facebook, forums etc) without prior authorization. All contents are written by Lovefia. You are welcome to link to the post/pages but please do not steal.

📚📚An Indonesian bibliophile...crazy for books and poetry...John Donne's cheerleader than Shakespeare...disciple of Michel Foucault and Pierre Bourdieu...an avid book reader...and a book hoarder with super long reading list which is impossible to finish 📚📚